Got to give up for DALLAS for one of the smartest brand tie-ins. In honor of the late Larry Hagman whose iconic portrayal of J.R. Ewing in DALLAS made the show a global sensation for its 14 seasons from 1978-1991, as well as helping launch its revival in 2012 and with the series is now entering its third season on TNT, Warner Bros. and Southfork Bottling Company are launching a very special bourbon brand in honor of J.R. Ewing. The thought behind it was a man like J.R. Ewing would never drink any other bourbon than his own brand. A billionaire with refined taste, he would have commissioned his own bourbon and only stocked the best.
At an exclusive event last week, the stars and producers of DALLAS attended a special event for the launch of the J.R. Ewing Bourbon. They made a toast to Larry Hagman, and reminisced on the man, his iconic character and the show that remains steadfastly in everyone’s memories. J.R. Ewing was legendary and it is a remarkable achievement that Larry Hagman made such a notorious villain so lovable and root-worthy during the run of the series. It is delightful that the show has chosen a product that both Larry and J.R. would have been proud of.
The J.R. Ewing Private Reserve Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey will be released in March 2014.
As announced by the press release:
To coincide with the season three premiere of Dallas on Monday, February 24, at 9/8c on TNT, Southfork Bottling Company is teaming up with Warner Bros. to launch a new brand of bourbon, J.R. Ewing Bourbon, inspired by the show’s infamous character and iconic Texas tycoon. The bourbon can be found on spirit retailers’ shelves beginning end of March.
Distilled in the heart of Kentucky’s bourbon country, the 4-year-old, 80-proof light amber-colored bourbon will initially launch in 14 states across the South and Midwest, with plans to expand nationally within a few months and internationally by the year’s end. The brand will be marketed to distributors around the United States by Prairie Creek Beverages, a national wine and spirits marketing company, and internationally by Melchers Group, a producer and exporter based in The Netherlands.
Packaging for the new bourbon features a wooden stopper and screen-printed image of the legendary Southfork Ranch — home of the Ewings — which can be seen through the front of the elegant, iconic bottle.
J.R. Ewing Bourbon is well balanced and possesses a maturity that adds to its complexity. The nose is classic and slightly fruity, with notes of vanilla, oak sweetness and a touch of orange. The taste profile is surprisingly mild, yet crisp, and exhibits a lightly spicy/honey taste that lingers on the palate.
“Creating a brand of such high quality is reflective of J.R.’s thirst for the best in life, and the new brand really pays tribute to the character with whom everyone around the world is familiar,” said Andy Harmon, co-founder of Southfork Bottling Company.
Bourbon was the drink of choice for Dallas’ legendary character J.R. Ewing; a ruthless and egotistical Texas oil baron with discerning taste who was particular about his liquor, J.R. would no doubt have been pleased to see his own notorious name signed on the bottle of this well-crafted bourbon whiskey.
“It’s exciting to have the show and J.R.’s legacy, represented to the public in a new way,” said Dallas executive producer and writer Cynthia Cidre. “Plus, it gives the fans one more reason to celebrate Dallas!”
“My father, Larry Hagman, would have loved the fact that this new bourbon was named after his legendary character, J.R. Ewing — a signature spirit inspired by one of the most beloved, conniving and trailblazing characters in entertainment history,” said Preston Hagman.
J.R. Ewing Bourbon is a partnership between Warner Bros. Consumer Products and Warner Bros. Television Group, in collaboration with Southfork Bottling Company.
About DALLAS
Based upon one of the most popular television dramas of all time, Dallas centers on the Ewing clan, an enormously wealthy Texas family whose sibling rivalries, romantic betrayals, corruption and even acts of murder are legendary. Secrets, schemes and shady alliances abound at the Southfork ranch in Dallas, Texas, as the next generation of Ewings — along with Ewing patriarch Bobby Ewing (Patrick Duffy), now the senior member of the family following the death of his older brother, J.R. Ewing, and Sue Ellen Ewing (Linda Gray), J.R.’s former wife — take ambition and deceit to new levels. In addition to Duffy and Gray, the series stars Josh Henderson, Jesse Metcalfe, Jordana Brewster, Julie Gonzalo, Brenda Strong, Mitch Pileggi, Emma Bell and Juan Pablo Di Pace. Developed by Cynthia Cidre and based upon the series created by David Jacobs, Dallas is produced for TNT by Warner Horizon Television, with Cidre, Michael M. Robin, Robert Rovner and Bruce Rasmussen serving as executive producers. Dallas begins its third season Monday, February 24, 2014, at 9/8c on TNT.
DALLAS returns for its third season on Monday, February 24th at 9:00 p.m. on TNT. Be sure to tune in to find out what kinds of trouble the Ewings are stirring up next in their quest to keep the Ewing legacy alive. Oil, money, greed, and sex — DALLAS has it all!
To find out more about Season 3, be sure to check out these articles:
On the Scene: Deep in the Heart of DALLAS, Texas
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(Press release and photos provided courtesy of Levenson Public Relations; photographs by Kim Ritzenthaler Leeson)
(Note: Attendance at this special event was provided by and sponsored by Warner Bros. Television.)
Tiffany Vogt is the Senior West Coast Editor, contributing as a columnist and entertainment reporter to TheTVaddict.com. She has a great love for television and firmly believes that entertainment is a world of wondrous adventures that deserves to be shared and explored – she invites you to join her. Please feel free to contact Tiffany at Tiffany_Vogt_2000@yahoo.com or follow her at on Twitter (@TVWatchtower).